Bibler Nature Preserve
Trail and Footbridge. Click to enlarge
Bibler Nature Preserve was once a farmstead; ACRES acquired the land in 1992. All told the preserve protects more than one hundred acres. An elaborate and potentially confusing network of trails explores old fields now grown up in grass, shrubs, and woods. Twinleaf occurs here, as do many other wildflowers, including purple trillium, trout lily, and green dragon. From the parking area, an elongated figure eight path heads northwest through newer woods, eventually approaching a small tributary of the Little Salamonie River. Another path leads straight west from the parking area, hugging the southern property boundary, and then looping through an area of abandoned fields. Along the way it passes near an enormous granite boulder that bears an interesting inscription written by the donor of the property; I can confirm his observation that life is brief. As I’ve written about some other farm-to-nature projects, this one will only get better with time.
Trail Map
Click to enlarge
Directions
Jay County. From the intersection of US 27 and 500 South, go east 4.1 miles on 500S, then south 0.5 miles on 400E to a parking area on the right (west).
GPS: N 40 21.627 W 84 54.049
Facilities
None
Finder Sketch
Click to enlarge
Nearby Natural Areas (miles)
Bell-Croft Nature Preserve (12.5)
McVey Memorial Forest (17.9)